South Africa’s poultry sector faces delays as government stalls on master plan commitments

SOUTH AFRICA – The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) is voicing frustration with government over what it describes as a failure to follow through on commitments made under the Poultry Sector Master Plan (PSMP).

The initiative was launched in 2019 with the aim of addressing import dumping, increasing local consumption and production, opening export markets, and bringing more black-owned producers into the industry.

At the time, it was seen as a joint framework between government and industry that could strengthen food security, create jobs, and build competitiveness in international markets.

SAPA Broiler Organisation chief executive Izaak Breitenbach said the sector moved quickly after the agreement was signed, committing more than US$115 million (R2.2 billion) in new facilities, which exceeded the initial target of US$78 million (R1.5 billion).

He explained that this investment allowed major producers to expand operations, employ more people, and include small-scale farmers through contract farming.

Trade remedies, together with global disruptions such as bird flu in other regions, also reduced the flow of dumped imports, providing some breathing room for local producers.

However, Breitenbach noted that progress slowed after the last national elections, when the PSMP was shifted to the oversight of deputy ministers and momentum started to fade.

He added that despite repeated promises, including those made in 2024 and 2025 by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, the second phase of the plan has not moved forward in a meaningful way.

These pledges included new financial packages, improved veterinary surveillance, modern cold-chain facilities, support for emerging farmers, and large-scale bird flu vaccination campaigns.

According to Breitenbach, little of this has been implemented on the ground, leaving the industry without clarity on when commitments will be honoured.

Export challenges remain unresolved

The most pressing concern for producers is the lack of access to export markets, which Breitenbach described as the largest gap in the plan’s execution.

He pointed out that companies have invested in upgraded processing plants and cold-chain systems, but the absence of updated veterinary protocols and trade agreements prevents sales into Europe, the Middle East, or Asia.

Laboratories needed to provide internationally recognised certificates remain underfunded and short-staffed, leading to claims within the industry that “exports die in the lab.”

This deadlock has a knock-on effect, with lost opportunities for contract growers, rural labourers, and black-owned businesses that depend on poultry production.

Breitenbach warned that the industry is willing and able to grow, but without decisive government action, the master plan risks becoming ineffective.

He urged authorities to set specific timelines, accelerate trade negotiations, strengthen veterinary capacity, and ensure small-scale farmers have access to financing.

Only by delivering on these measures, he argued, can the poultry master plan meet its original goals of a stronger and more inclusive industry.

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